Simons says Delhi Daredevils can match heavyweights

Delhi Daredevils held their first training session of the season at the Ferozeshah Kotla nets on Sunday with head coach Eric Simons putting captain Virender Sehwag and the youngsters in the squad through their paces.

After a two-and-a-half hour session, Simons expressed confidence in his side, saying that while heavyweights like Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have progressed since last year, the Daredevils could match them.

Daredevils had their first training of the season: Robin Bist shadow practises, left, and Captain Virender Sehwag, right, also took to the nets

'Chennai have got Ravindra Jadeja and Mumbai have added players like Pragyan Ojha, which has made them very well balanced sides with great depth in their squads.

'But we can psychologically prepare ourselves in a manner that counters their advantage. When we put our best XI out on the field, we can certainly match them man for man; it is just a case of playing to our potential, something we didn't do last season,' Simons told Mail Today.

'Our expectation for this season is just to do the best we can, and we have enough cover for players who will miss games due to international commitments. Youngsters win important games for you.'

The Daredevils finished at the bottom of the 10- team table last year, and have since added batting heavyweights like Kevin Pietersen, Mahela Jayawardene and Ross Taylor to their side.

But Simons also believes that the largely local bowling line-up will need to step up their game as well.

'It will be interesting to see if the bowlers come back, because the batsmen have dominated the last IPL.

Confident: Eric Simons

This is a time for some of the local
lads to step up for the Delhi Daredevils, now that they have a few more
years' experience under their belts and therefore more ability. Our batting will put pressure on oppositions,' said the South African.

The Kotla wicket has been two-paced of late, and Simons wants the curator to come up with something that will suit stroke-players.

'I'm pleased to see some grass on the wicket, that's why we moved to the side wicket last year.

'When there's no grass on the wicket, you can't do anything, but when there's grass, you can adapt, you can do something with watering and cutting.

'The square is looking good, it gives the curator a chance to give us something that'll suit us, depending on the opposition. We've got a top order that can dominate any bowling attack and we want a wicket that allows free stroke-making,' India's former bowling coach said.

Simons was simultaneously associated with the Daredevils and the Indian team for a few years, and says many Indian players have benefited from IPL stints at the highest level.

'Young Indian cricketers have benefited the most from playing in the IPL. For example, I don't think Virat Kohli would've been where he is if he hadn't played the way he has in the IPL, hadn't interacted with senior players, hadn't been a match-winner around the players like he has done. It has given him tremendous self-confidence.

Rohit Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav - they all wouldn't be the cricketers they are today. All of them have grown, and the IPL has speeded up the process,' Simons said.

Dwelling on Yadav's development, Simons was effusive in his praise. 'Umesh has really developed incredibly and is a crucial part of any attack. He has grown as a cricketer tremendously, and we're very excited about the way he bowled today. He needed rest after an extended period of cricket, but he's a natural athlete,' Simons said.

When asked if the IPL was an additional burden on players' schedules and contributed to injuries, Simons was defensive. 'I don't think there's any sport in the world that has had a new format developed.

The IPL is a format to really develop your game and your personality. Test cricket is played in a different manner today because of what the players have learnt in the IPL,' he said.